RAIL Back On Track is conducting a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland. Everyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland is invited to participate. Also anyone who avoids using public transport can also comment as to why they do not use public transport.

Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. Since 2011 we have opened our survey up to the public. Previous surveys can be found here > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=46.0

The survey is web based and all public transport passengers on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland are welcome to complete it. The survey is anonymous and quick to complete.

The information from this survey will be used to acknowledge the gains and inform our ongoing efforts for improvements as needed.

Results of the survey, including comments, will be published promptly on the RAIL Back On Track discussion forum after the survey closes on Sunday 19th November 2017. Results will also inform the Queensland State Election.

On behalf of our members we extend an invitation to all citizens to drop by and fill out our survey.

RAIL Back On Track is conducting a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland. Everyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland is invited to participate. Also anyone who avoids using public transport can also comment as to why they do not use public transport.

Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we have conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. Since 2011 we have opened our survey up to the public.

The survey is web based and anonymous and quick to complete.

The information from this survey will be used to acknowledge the gains and inform our ongoing efforts for improvement as needed.

Results of the survey, including comments, will be published promptly on the RAIL Back On Track discussion forum after the survey closes on the 19th November 2017. The survey results will inform the 2017 Queensland State Election.

On behalf of our Members we extend an invitation to all citizens to drop by and fill out our survey. Information is knowledge. Knowledge leads to improvements.

RAIL Back On Track 2017 Public Transport Passenger Survey now open! Closing 19th November 2017!

Greetings

RAIL Back On Track is conducting a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland. Everyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland is invited to participate. Also anyone who avoids using public transport can also comment as to why they do not use public transport.

Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we have conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. Since 2011 we have opened our survey up to the public.

The survey is web based and anonymous and quick to complete.

The information from this survey will be used to acknowledge the gains and inform our ongoing efforts for improvement as needed.

Results of the survey, including comments, will be published promptly on the RAIL Back On Track discussion forum after the survey closes on the 19th November 2017. The survey results will inform the 2017 Queensland State Election.

On behalf of our Members we extend an invitation to all citizens to drop by and fill out our survey. Information is knowledge. Knowledge leads to improvements.

comment 1090 stands out....gives three main motivators as to why a lot of people are turning off public transport in Brisbane....too much effort & time just to transfer between bus/rail,QR stop skipping and excessive maintenance shutdowns........meaning they prefer to drive or use personalised transport...

SEQ: RAIL Back On Track's 2017 Public Transport Passenger Survey results now available!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has conducted a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland (1). Anyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland was invited to participate.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we have conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. This year we again opened up our survey up to the public! There were 173 responses to our survey.

"The survey was web based and public transport passengers on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland were welcome to complete it. The survey was anonymous and quick to complete.

"On behalf of our members we thank those public transport passengers who took the time drop by and fill out our survey. Particular thanks for the comments, many very meaningful and lengthy. Information is knowledge. Knowledge leads to improvements."

The key messages from the survey:

1. The public thinks the present fares overall are still too expensive. We suggest a fare price freeze for 2018 and 2019.

2. The service frequency of public transport, particularly rail needs significant improvement. Bus network reform is needed and supported. Rail fail has had a devastating impact on the public's rating of rail overall. Ferry continues to rate well.

It is a pity the Governments and the transport authorities do not pay more attention to our annual RAIL Back On Track Public Transport Passenger Surveys. If they did they would be on top of problems perhaps before they become major critical issues.

For example if you look at the results of our surveys from years 2014 to 2017, the disturbing impact of rail fail is revealed.

For the survey question: How would you rate Rail overall?A combination of Poor + Very poor responses on RAIL Back On Track Annual Surveys years 2014 to 2017 reveals this disturbing trend:

SEQ: RAIL Back On Track's 2017 Public Transport Passenger Survey results now available!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has conducted a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland (1). Anyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland was invited to participate.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we have conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. This year we again opened up our survey up to the public! There were 173 responses to our survey.

"The survey was web based and public transport passengers on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland were welcome to complete it. The survey was anonymous and quick to complete.

"On behalf of our members we thank those public transport passengers who took the time drop by and fill out our survey. Particular thanks for the comments, many very meaningful and lengthy. Information is knowledge. Knowledge leads to improvements."

The key messages from the survey:

1. The public thinks the present fares overall are still too expensive. We suggest a fare price freeze for 2018 and 2019.

2. The service frequency of public transport, particularly rail needs significant improvement. Bus network reform is needed and supported. Rail fail has had a devastating impact on the public's rating of rail overall. Ferry continues to rate well.

PASSENGER dissatisfaction with Queensland Rail has almost quadrupled in three years.

An annual survey by a commuters’ group reveals the proportion of passengers rating southeast Queensland’s train services as poor or very poor has soared from 12.5 per cent in 2014 to 48 per cent.

Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said it reflected the impact of the QR “Rail Fail” and ongoing public frustration at delays in fixing the system.

“This is really quite diabolical,’’ he said.

The rail result contrasts markedly with those for other modes. The overall rating for buses has improved, less than 10 per cent of travellers think ferries are poor or very poor and light rail is virtually unchanged over the three years, at less than 10 per cent dissatisfaction.

“Rail is the only one that has nosedived,” Mr Dow said. “It’s really quite striking the way it has fallen off.

“I expected some effects from ‘Rail Fail’ but this is a lot worse than I had expected.’’

The opening of the long-awaited Redcliffe Peninsula Line in October 2016 exposed a shortage of drivers that led to mass cancellations across the network and ongoing disruption and reduced timetables.

The Rail Back On Track survey of regular travellers found more than half rate the frequency and reliability of train services as inadequate.

“They (Queensland Rail) have been spinning that rail is going OK now. You don’t get these kinds of results from a service that is going OK,” Mr Dow said.

“This is hard evidence as to the impact on the travelling public. And still we are looking at more service reductions over the Christmas/School Holidays with no doubt a very compromised overall rail service leading up to, during and after the Commonwealth Games.”

Transport Minister Jackie Trad said commuter data collected by TransLink showed satisfaction with public transport at its highest levels since 2012. “And we have on time running back above 95 per cent.

“We have been working hard to fix the trains after the deep cuts to driver training the LNP Newman-Nicholls government undertook.”

“Rail Fail’’ led to the resignations of QR CEO Helen Gluer and chairman Ian Klug. Transport Previous transport minister Stirling Hinchliffe stepped down following the release of the Strachan inquiry report into the debacle in February.

The latest report from the Citytrain Response Unit, set up by the Palaszczuk Government to monitor progress on QR’s response to the Strachan recommendations, said “stress periods’’ during the winter and September school holidays and the Ekka had been “successfully managed’’.

It also noted that 128 of the 200 extra drivers needed had been selected and 36 trained since October last year. The target for full recruitment is next year.

The Strachan report said 200 more guards were also needed, but 263 have been selected and 105 trained so far.

QR chief executive Nick Easy said “significant progress’’ had been made recruiting and training more drivers and guards internally and among former staff and the current external recruitment campaign was the next step in meeting the target and “ensuring a pipeline of talent for the future given some guards are expected to progress to trainee driver positions”.

The facts are simple. Rail fail has had a devastating impact on our public transport network for SEQ. Our survey results show that very clearly. Efforts for restoration of a full service timetable must be further accelerated from here.

If you cannot comprehend simple data tables here are some radar plots of the RAIL Back On Track Passenger 2017 survey data, overall ratings (below). You can see instantly the impact of rail fail.

SEQ: RAIL Back On Track's 2017 Public Transport Passenger Survey results now available!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has conducted a survey of how public transport passengers rate our public transport in south-east Queensland (1). Anyone who travels on public transport in south-east Queensland was invited to participate.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Since RAIL Back On Track formed in 2006 we have conducted our own annual member surveys on how members rate public transport. This year we again opened up our survey up to the public! There were 173 responses to our survey.

"The survey was web based and public transport passengers on the TransLink network in south-east Queensland were welcome to complete it. The survey was anonymous and quick to complete.

"On behalf of our members we thank those public transport passengers who took the time drop by and fill out our survey. Particular thanks for the comments, many very meaningful and lengthy. Information is knowledge. Knowledge leads to improvements."

The key messages from the survey:

1. The public thinks the present fares overall are still too expensive. We suggest a fare price freeze for 2018 and 2019.

2. The service frequency of public transport, particularly rail needs significant improvement. Bus network reform is needed and supported. Rail fail has had a devastating impact on the public's rating of rail overall. Ferry continues to rate well.

The G-Link train pulling into the Helensvale train station — the trams are a winner. Picture John Gass

Quote

A LEADING commuter group has called on the Palaszczuk Government to freeze fares for the next two years to get motorists off the Pacific Motorway and on to public transport.

The Rail Back on Track annual survey of regular public transport users reveals passengers are fed up with trains but love the light rail.

Despite Labor improving affordability through a “Fairer Fares’’ package, the group believes the Government has yet to win the hearts and minds of motorists and needs to take the further step of a ticket freeze.

An exclusive Bulletin report on new road transport maps released yesterday shows the major roads to Commonwealth Games venues are at gridlock in peak hour, which means public transport must take the pressure off when fans arrive for the event next April.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow told the Bulletin: “In terms of the Commonwealth Games, we are really worried. The new trains, will they have enough ready? Will there be enough train crews?”

Annual surveying by the group shows that despite reforming fares, the Government has yet to win across workers aware of the “rail fail”, with weekly reports of cancelled services.

Asked about Go Card fares, almost 13 per cent of respondents believe the prices are “extremely expensive” while 40 per cent regard their daily trip as “expensive”.

“It’s a lot better than what it was. The other thing that has changed it is the local journeys on the Gold Coast, they’ve moved into one or two zones,” Mr Dow said.

“But there’s still a lot of perception out there that it’s dear. We’ve made a call to all political parties to freeze fares for 2018 and 2019.

“We think that will bring it back to a level situation. Southeast Queensland is far more expensive than the other states.”

A single paper ticket across one zone costs $4.60, and $3.20 on a Go Card; and the fare can be as much as $28 (paper ticket) and $19.32 (Go Card) over eight zones. A rail trip to Brisbane can cost from $10 to $19, depending on the zone where the commuter embarks from the Gold Coast.

By comparison, a two-hour fare across one zone in Melbourne costs $4.10. Mr Dow said trips between the Melbourne CBD and Geelong can cost as little as 40 cents.

State Transport Minister Jackie Trad at Estimates hearings said customer satisfaction data showed affordability was tracking at its best levels since 2013.

Peak periods were now starting at 6am and not 3am, and children under 15 were travelling free on weekends, she told Estimates.

The LNP responded during the State poll by offering free off-peak seniors bus and rail travel, while the Greens said adults should pay only a $1 fare and commuters under 18 could travel free.

But the findings of the Rail Back on Track survey shows Labor cannot escape the “rail fail” stigma.

Asked to rate public transport services, about 16 per cent of respondents thought buses were poor, less than nine per cent felt the same about light rail, while almost 58 per cent gave a bad rating to rail.

Only around 5 per cent of respondents were critical of the frequency of light rail services while more than 56 per cent of regular commuters were upset about the timing for trains.

The proportion of passengers rating rail as “poor or very poor” has climbed from 12.5 per cent in 2015 to 48 per cent.

“These are people who regularly travel on trains. It’s a fairly disastrous outcome for rail. Light rail is the standout performer,” Mr Dow said.

Commuters called for more express runs from Beenleigh to the city, saying it was faster to travel by bus.

“The fares are too high. It’s cheaper to fuel my car and drive to work than it is to catch the train. That is just crazy,” a resident wrote.

Mr Dow said the Government was close to getting a better fare system, but the length of the trip to Brisbane remained a turn-off for Coast residents, along with the frequency of cancellations.

“It is beyond ludicrous that it sometimes takes over two hours on a train and a bus to get from the capital city of Brisbane to another large city, the Gold Coast, only about 65km away by public transport,” a commuter wrote.

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow has tracked commuter opinion on rail services and noted a sharp drop in confidence about services. Picture: Peter Cronin